1968 Dodge Charger R/T Parked for 40 Years Resurfaces with Matching Numbers Engine

Most classic cars that have been parked for decades become rust bins due to neglect or improper storage. Some, however, survive without significant damage and emerge as perfect restoration projects. This 1968 Dodge Charger R/T is one of those vehicles.

Found in storage, this Mopar is a bit of a mystery. Retired in 1984, the R/T has resurfaced 40 years later with its original red paint still adorning some of the body panels. However, it does sport what appears to be a replacement front fender, while other body elements are finished in primer. We could be looking at a restoration project that wasn't completed.

This is a fairly common scenario. The owner decides to park the car and restore it, disassembles it and does some bodywork. Then, life gets in the way and the vehicle is left unfinished. Eventually the owner dies and the family sells the car.

Regardless of what happened, this Charger is in excellent condition for a vehicle that has sat for four decades. There is very little rust to speak of, and the body panels are straight. And while it may appear incomplete at first glance, the new owner received almost everything in boxes. The original hood is missing, but it should not be difficult to source a proper replacement.

The interior is a mixed bag. While it appears complete and in decent condition at first glance, it is no longer original. According to the car's documents, this Charger rolled off the assembly line with a white interior. Well, the original upholstery is gone, with the front and rear seats showing a blue-green hue. It's unclear whether the units were reupholstered or replaced entirely.

But there’s good news where it matters most: in the drivetrain department. The original V8 engine is still with the car, though it’s been removed and will need some work to get it running again. The powerplant in question is a 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) big-block V8 topped with a four-barrel carburetor.

The 1968 Charger R/T's standard engine produced 375 horsepower and 480 pound-feet (651 Nm) of torque when new. The other V8 available at the time was the mighty 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI.

The fact that it is an R/T makes it a bit rarer than the average 1968 Charger. Dodge sold about 93,000 of them that year, but fewer than 18,000 were ordered as the high-performance R/T models. Most of these cars had the standard 440 V8, as only 475 rolled off the assembly line with the 426 HEMI.

While it may not become a six-figure classic, this Charger is definitely worth restoring. It is in great condition, and matching numbers vehicles are becoming harder and harder to find. Until it gets back on the road as a racer and driver classic, you can check it out fresh out of the warehouse in the video below.